An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC — a special court that hears terrorism-related cases) on Monday granted pre-arrest bail to four Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders, settling the latest PTI ATC bail applications tied to the November 26 protest and a demonstration outside the Supreme Court.
Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain allowed the relief for former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, Atif Khan, Latif Khosa and Faisal Amin Gandapur after hearing their fresh pre-arrest bail pleas. Pre-arrest bail, also called anticipatory bail, is temporary court protection against arrest while a case is pending. The court ordered each of the four to furnish a surety bond of Rs5,000.
How many cases each leader faces
According to the court order, Mr Qaiser received bail in nine cases, Mr Khan in four, Mr Khosa in three and Mr Gandapur in six. The matters relate to the November 26 protest and a demonstration outside the Supreme Court. Counsel for the leaders argued the fresh applications before the judge allowed them.
Earlier dismissal, then a fresh grant
A few days before Monday’s hearing, the same court had dismissed the leaders’ pre-arrest bail applications because they had repeatedly failed to appear. They then filed new applications. After listening to their lawyers, the ATC granted the PTI ATC bail they sought, subject to the Rs5,000 surety for each applicant.
IHC date on Adiala jail meeting plea
Separately, the Islamabad High Court has fixed November 5 for a petition by members of the National Dialogue Committee (NDC) who want permission to meet incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, at Adiala jail. Justice Umer Majid Malik is to hear the matter on Thursday. The petition sits alongside objections raised by the Registrar’s Office.
The plea was filed through senior lawyer Faisal Fareed Chaudhry by former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, former Sindh governor Imran Ismail, Mahmood Baqi Molvi and Barrister Muhammad Ali Khan Saif. They named the interior secretary, the Punjab home secretary and the Adiala jail superintendent as respondents.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- November 26: Cases later cited by the ATC arise from a protest and a demonstration outside the Supreme Court.
- Days before Monday’s ATC hearing: The court dismissed the four leaders’ earlier pre-arrest bail applications for repeated failure to appear.
- Monday: Judge Zulqarnain granted pre-arrest bail on fresh applications, with Rs5,000 surety each.
- November 5: The Islamabad High Court is scheduled to hear the NDC petition seeking meetings with Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi at Adiala jail.
Aasan alfaaz mein
ATC ne Asad Qaiser samet char PTI leaders ko pehle se giraftari se bachne wali bail de di hai. Yeh cases 26 November ke protest aur Supreme Court ke bahir demonstration se jude hain. Har leader ko paanch hazar rupay ki surety deni hogi. Alag se High Court 5 November ko Imran Khan se mulaqat ki darkhwast sunegi.
